Blaenau Ffestiniog GWR Exchange Station.

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(52°59′40″N, 3°56′18″W)

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iBase ID

1814

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Blaenau Ffestiniog GWR Exchange Station.

Blaenau Ffestiniog GWR Exchange Station looking towards Duffws. The photographer is stood on the platform staircase leading onto the pedestrian footbridge over the FR tracks. On the right in the GWR platform a short passenger train is ready to depart towards Bala. The two corridor bogie Clerestories are being hauled by a pannier tank locomotive, probably one of the GWR 1854 Class. Meanwhile another pannier tank, either of the same class or a similar GWR 2721 Class, is shunting a goods train in the yard with one of the distinctive Toad brake vans.

The loop line adjacent to the GWR Goods shed on the the far right was provided, from the outset, for stabling carriages that formed the GWR 'Workmen's train', a service that continued one provided by the narrow gauge Festiniog & Blaenau. The GWR almost without exception used antiquated carriages relieved from mainline service by newer designs. The elderly carriages seen here are three non-corridor bogie Clerestories and a slightly younger low roof carriage on the right. These carriages, one of which is a third class brake composite, would have been approximately 40 years old when this photograph was taken.

Behind these carriages can be seen the relatively new GWR central signal box, which was built to replace the former joint FR/GWR Blaenau Box No. 2 which previously stood behind the photographer at the end of the island platform. This box, and the FR box beside Queen's Bridge (Blaenau No. 1) were decommissioned following the Light Railway Order reduction in signalling. This scene shows the station with the boxes newly dismantled and the formerly elaborate semaphore signalling removed completely. Note that whilst the original Queen's Bridge deck is still in place, it has gained structural supports under the bridge and the FR reduced to a single line. This places the scene between between 1929 and 1933 (the final removal of the signalling and the erection of the new bridge respectively).

The FR train includes Curly Roofed Van No. 3 and probably Ashbury No. 21, indicating that it could be a quarrymen's train, although more likely than not Duffws is no longer open for passenger traffic.

Source. Lens GW

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SH6998645904

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